Case for snelled fishhooks



Nov. 13, 1956 P. A. KELLEY CASE FOR SNELLED FISHHOOKS m m/ 7w m 4 5 w m7 m M A K M m g. 3 o h vlh w .k m. 1 n \%H|U l M MWJ 1 1 a w 2 A l 1 5 2J 4 0 2 m w Z l C T LE r w sn M m m u \T J 4 w 0 4 Nov. 13, 1956 P. A.KELLEY CASE FOR SNELLED FISHHOOKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23, 1954ATTOQNEYS.

United States Patent CASE FOR SNELLED FISHHOOKS Paul A. Kelley, LosAngeles, Calif. Application June 23, 1954, Serial No. 438,784 Claims.(Cl. 43-575) More particularly, this invention provides a case that canbe made by moulding from inexpensive plastic material, such aspolyethylene, and in which no complex snell stretching equipment isneeded.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a case or housing for fish- V hooks,embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along a planecorresponding to line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the hook case illustrated in Fig. 1',

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional views taken respectively alonglines 44, 5-5 and 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form ofthe invention; and

Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a further modifiedform.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the case has a body 1 whichis of generally rectangular cross section and which may be formedconveniently of amolded plastic material such as polyethylene.

A plurality of parallel grooves are formed in the body, each adapted toaccommodate a snelled hook. These grooves are provided in each sideofthebody. There are, in this instance, six such grooves on each side ofthe body. Since they are identical in form, a description of one groove2 is representative of all of them.

The upper portion of groove 2, as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, isrelatively deep and wide. It is made deep enough so that a snelled hook3 can be completely accommodated at this portion of the groove. At aplace 4 substantially below the top of the groove 2, it is narrowed toform a portion 5 which continues to decrease in depth toward the lowerend of the body. The groove is wide enough to accommodate the snell 6 ofthe hook 3. The lower portion of the groove 2 is also widened, asindicated by the portion 7. This portion 7 of thegroove is quiteshallow, and has. an arcuatebottom, as indicated by reference character18 in Fig. 5. 7 i

Projecting from the bottom of the portion -7'is-an anchor post 8,integral with portion 7, over which the loop 9 of snell 6 can beaccommodated. The outer end of this anchor is at or below the surface ofbody 1.

The snelled hook is kept in straightened position by the aid of aresilient member such as a rubber band 10.

The hook 3 can be engaged by a rubber band 10, so that the barb endeither faces inwardly or outwardly of the groove.

In order to place the hook 3 and its snell 6 within the groove, the hook3 is first engaged by the rubber band.

Then the snell 6 is pulled so as to stretch the rubber band 2,770,064Patented Nov. 13, 1956 'ice 10 sufliciently to make it possible to passthe loop 9 of the snell over the anchor 8.

In the position shown in Fig. 2, the snelled hook is in proper positionfor retention in the body 1. It is noted that no portion of the snell 6or hook 3 extends out of the groove 2. Consequently, there is no dangerof snagging the hook, and the hook and the snell are kept in properextended position. I V

As shown in Fig. 2, the direction of tension of the band 10 is at anangle to the bottom of thegroove 2. Accordingly, there is a component ofthe tensive force urging the hook 3 inwardly against the bottom of thegroove, and the hook 3 assumes a position as far into the groove 2 as itcan go. This effect is attained by placing the righthand edge of wall 12substantially as seen in Fig.2, in

line with the bottom of groove 2, so that the band 10 extends downwardlyand toward the left of this righthand edge when engaged by fishhook 3. Y

The anchor for the upper portion of the rubber band 10 is provided'by apost or anchor 11 (see, also, Fig. 4), which is integrally formed withthe upper wall 12 defining the upper end of the groove 2. The bottom ofthe groove 2 is provided with a through passage 13 communicating with apassage 14 extending to the top of the body 1. A rubber band 10 can belooped over an anchor 11, and passed through the passages 13 and 14 intothe bottom of the groove 2. A cap 28 is provided for the upper open endof body 1, which may be removed to gain access to the upper portion ofthe band 10 and the anchor 11. Replacement and renewal of a rubber bandis therefore facilitated. 7

Each end portion of the body 1 is formed with a rectangular wall 15, asindicated in Fig. 2, surrounding-the anchors or posts 11.

Additional grooves 16 and 17, one on each side of the groove 2,areforrned in the body, and arranged for the accommodation of additionalhooks. These. grooves are parallel and are spaced apart-so as to make itpossible to form three additional grooves in which the deep portionofthe groove is at thelower end of the body 1. Thus, grooves l8, 19 and20- have relatively deep portions .at the lower end of the body 1.-They.have the identical configuration as the groove 2,, except thatthey are reversely arranged-in the body 1=and are spaced alternatelywithgrooves 16, 2, and.-17 (see Figs. 5 and 6).

The anchors21, 22 and. 23 forpthe snells located in grooves 18, 19 and20 are disposed adjacent the upper end of the body 1 in relativelyshallow, wide portions of these grooves. These relatively wide portionsof the groovesat the loop end of the smell make it easy to engage andlift the snell 6 with the fingers. After the snell 6 is lifted out ofthe groove, the rubber band 10 may be further stretched in order topermit release of the loop 9 from itsanchor, and then the hook 3 may bedisengaged from the rubber band.

'24. 'In this way, the body" 1- is symmetrically arranged so "that theupper and lower ehdsofthe body' are of identical form. Similar groovesare varranged on the other side of the body 1 in such fashionthat thedeep portions of the grooves on this other side are juxtaposed with'theshallow portions of the grooves on the first side. This is illustratedin Fig. 2. In this figure, groove 25 lies opposite the groove 2. Thedeep portion of groove 25 is opposite the shallow portion of groove 2.

The width of the body is sufficient to provide identically shapedgrooves on both sides thereof, leaving between the grooves a thin wall26. The next groove 27 adjacent the groove 25 (see Fig. 6) is in reverseposition so that at its 'lower end there is provided a loop anchor"similar to anchor 8.

On the reverse side, as well as on the first side discussed, the anchorsfor the rubber bands andfor. the loops at each end of the body 1alternate with the alternate grooves.

The slip-over cap 28, at each end 'serves to bands '10, While the formillustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 is of substantiallyrectangular-configuratiomit is possible to provide a similar structurewith a cylindrical'arrangement. This is illustrated in Fig. 7, wheregrooves 29 are provided-in alternate arrangement around a cylindricalbody 30.. At the upper end of the body 30 the anchors 31 for the loop ofthe snell alternate with corresponding anchors 32-- for therubber-bands. I

V Jn'the form shown'in'Fig. 8,"-the body or case 33 is considerablyshorter than in the previous forms. The snells 34 f or the hooks 35 arebent over the rounded upper end of the longitudinally extending wall 36;A continuous groove 37 extends around this upper end. n the left handside of the body 33, anchors 38 are provided for the loops I 39 of thesnells. On the righthand side of the body the anchors 40 are providedforthe rubber bands 41. i i

As in the other forms, when the hooks are in position in the case, noportion of the hooks or snells projects .out-of the grooves. The caseloaded with the hooks is therefore safe to handle.

The inventor claims:

1. In a case for hooks each having a snell with a loop at the free-endof the shell: abody having opposite sides and a plurality of groovesdisposed in each of the opposite sides, each groove having a firstanchor for the -loop adjacent one end of the groove; and means formingasecond anchor adjacent the other end of the groove; the grooves beingparallel; the first anchor of one groove being adjacent the secondanchor .any .pair ,of grooves respectively on opposite sides of :thebody having the first anchor of one groove op- .positethe :second anchorof the other groove; said second anchor in each groove serving to holdresilient ,me'ans forengaging-a hook in each-groove, and attached aton'eend to the second anchor; the grooves being deep enough" to receive .therespective snells and hooks entirely within the grooves. .2. In-acasefor hooks each having a snell with-a loop at the freeendofthe snell: abody having opposite sides and a' plurality of-grooves disposed in eachof the opposite sides, each groove having a first anchor "for the loopadjacent one end of'the groove; and means forming .a second anchoradjacent the other end of the groove;

of the body I, prevent accidental displacement of the rubber .thegroovesbeing parallel; the first anchor of one groove Y being adjacent thesecond anchor any pair of grooves respectively on body having the firstanchor of one groove opposite the second anchorof the other groove; eachof the .grooves being relatively shallow at .the first anchor andrelatively deep at the second anchor; said second anchor accommodatingresilient means for engaging a hook in each ;grooye, and attachedat oneend to the second anchor; .the

of the next groove; opposite sides of the of the next groove;

- centone endof the grooves being deep enough to receive the respectivesnells and hooks entirely within the grooves.

3. In a case. for a hook having asnell with a loop at the free end ofthe snell: a body having a groove; a

first anchor for the loop disposed in the groove and adjagroove; 'and asecond anchor exterior of the groove and carried by the body adjacentthe other end of the groove; said body having a wall extending in wardlyof the case and defining one end of the groove, said wall having an edgewhich defines a passage with the case from said end of the groove, tothat portion of the case beyond the groove; said second anchor beingcarried by a wall adjacent said passage and in the case; said secondanchor being adapted to anchor a rubber band extending through :the,passage for engaging the hook; the groove being deep enough to receivethe snell and hook entirely within the groove; and the edge of the wallat the passagebeingso placed ;as to bias the snell toward the bottom ofthe groove. I i

4. In a case for a hook having a snell with a loop at the free end ofthe snell: a body having a groove; a first ,anchor for the loop disposedin the groove and adjacent one end of the groove; and a second anchorexterior of end ,of the groove; said body having a wall extendinginwardly of the case and defining'oneend of the groove, said wall havingan edge which. defines a passage with the case from said end of thegroove, to that portion of the case beyond the groove; said secondanchor being carried by a'wall adjacent said passage and in the case;the groove being relatively shallow and wide at the first anchor andrelatively deep at the second anchor; said second anchor being adaptedto anchor a rubber band extending through the passage for engaging thehook; the groove being deep enough to receive the snell and hookentirely within the groove; and the edge of the wall at the passagebeing so placed as to bias 'the snell toward the bottom of the groove.

5. In a case for a hook or hooks having a snell with a loop at the freeend ,of the snell: a body having a groove; a first anchor for the loopthe groove; means forming a second anchor adjacent the other endof'th'e'groove; said body having an inwardly projecting wall having anedge disposed inwardly ofthe groove; and resilient means adapted toengage the hook and attached at one .end to the second anchor; said edgebeing so located that theresilient means engages the edge and producesaforce urging of the groove, and the groove'beingdeep enough to receivethe snell and the hook entirely within :the groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNI STATES PATENTS 197,935-Holt Dec. 11, 1877 578,458 Knieriernen Mar. 9, 1897 639,454 -Smith,Dec. 19, 1899 742,040 Kurtz, :Sr. Oct. 20, 1903 1,451,256 Gardner Apr.10, 1923 1,490,370 Figley Apr. 15, 1924 1,638,389 Blumenthal et al Aug.9, 1927 2,980,794 Squassoni May 18, 1937 2,102,682 De Witt et al. p Dec.21, 1937 2,493,344 I Hamel Jan. 3, 1950 2,574,908 ,Buicke Nov. 13, 19512,597,304 Dillingham May 20, 1952 2;.6Q4J20 Wo0dard1- -July. 29, .19522,624,973 Wilcox Jan. 13,..1953

adjacent one end of the hook inwardly Thunel Mar. 3, :1953

